Floating dock.



PATBNTED JUNE 23,` 1903.

L. E. CLARK.

FLOATING DOCK.

PPLloATIoN Hum Dnc. 1, 1902.

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F0 MODEL;

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l l glecentral section-or I may employ two ter- Patented June 23, 1903.

Cerros.

LYONEL EDWIN CLARK, OFl-LONDONfENGLAND.

FLOATING DOCK.

SBECIFIGATION forming part of L'etters Patent No. 731,858, dated June 23, 1903. Application led December 1, 1902. Serial No. 133,413. (No model.)

To aJ/Z whom it may concern:

I Be it known that I, LYONEL EDWIN CLARK,

`a subject ofthe King of Great Britain, resid- ;ing at No.1 l Victoria street, London, S. W., England, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements iii-Floating Docks, of which `the following isa specication. s

My invention relates to floating docks of Vio ` parts of the structure Without the aid of divers which are so constructed that each section may be raised for inspection or repair by other y oriany separate structure or apparatus.

ing coincidentally to raise a vessel may be separated andtwo of the sections may be employed to lift the remaining section or any l one of the remaining sections if there be more than three employed, and each section may, if

desired, be employed to raise a small vessel.

\ In carrying out my invention I prefer to make each section of the dock of a general U shapen cross-section, as` is commonly done, because this general construction is found to aord the greatest resistance to longitudinal strains. I may make the dock in three sec` tions--viz., twoterminal sections and a sinminal and two or more central sections, each section being separable from the others when I desired, butall capable of being rigidly secured together when placedto raise a vessel. Each of the central sections may be offthe same general contour, and each such section is terminated at eac'h` end with a'joint dis posed in a vertical plane, by which it may be connected with itscompanion central sections orterminal sections. Each of the terminal f sections, while for the mostpart of the same 1 l general Vcontour as the central section, has its bottom portion prolonged at one end to form `a tongue that is adapted to fit between the i vertical side walls of any one of the other sections or to extend under one of the other sections. Each" central section and each termi- `nal section is a stable structure capable of doing its share in lifting a vessel or of itself lifting a relatively small vessel, and each is y provided with its own pumping apparatus "half the weight-of the and is capable of being lowered and raised ing on its tongue portion a partfsay one?v dock-section it is used to lift; but the two terminal sections in'any event should be so constructed as to be able when working together to lift a central section clear of the water and hold it there. In like manner it should be so constructed that when lemployedin connection with a central section to raise the other terminal section it `shall be capable of doing its share ofthe -spection or repair.

work.

As my invention does not contemplate any materialchange in the manner of forming the water-tight compartments or in the pumping apparatus, I have merely indicated iu the accompanying drawings the general outline of a oating dook embodying my improvements.

Figure l shows a side elevation ofsuch a floating dock comprising a single central sectionand two terminal sections. Fig.-2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is an end view of one of the sections. Fig. 4 is a side elevation,

showing the arrangemen t of the sections when the terminal sections are employed to lift a central section clear of the water-line for in- Fig. 5 is a plan `View of the sections in the position shown in elevation in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 shows the arrangement of the sections when a terminal section and a central section are employed to raise the remaining terminal section. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the sections arranged as shownin elevation inFig. 6. trating the manner of joining two adjacent sections. f

In Fig. l I have shown two terminal sections A Band a single central section C. The central section is formed in the usual way, being of a general 'U' shapeiin `cross-section, as indicated in Fig. 3. It is provided with any number of water-tight compartmentsand carries suitable pumping apparatus and may be provided'with any other machinery that is usually employed or that may be required. While Ihave shown a single central section, two or more of such sections may be employed, and they may be secured together at their ends Fig. 8 is a detail View illus- Y ICO in the usual or in any suitable way. Each terminal section A B is similar tothe central section C in most respects.

provided with watertight compartments,

pumping apparatus, &c. Any suitable means 1 may be provided for detachably connecting each terminal section A or B with the opposite ends of the central section. When the several sections are thus connected,they form one rigid structure adapted to lift a vessel. The

main difference between the terminal sections and the central section is that each terminal section has a tongue D projecting from its -v bottom portion and adapted to extend between the side walls ot' the central section in the manner indicated in Figs. 6 and 7 or to extend under any one of the other sections in the manner indicated in Figs. 4 and 5.

and shape, provided that its dimensions are such that it may project wholly or partly into one of the other sections. Each terminal section is so arranged and the water-tight divisions are so disposed that it is capable ot' lifting and supporting on its tongue at least half the weight of the central section or any one of such central sections should the dock Although the best and have more than one. simplest arrangement of the yterminal sections i's one where each terminal section is so proportioned that it can lift and support at least one-half the weight of-another section, I may of course so arrange the sections that one of them may carry more or less of the Weight ot the central section than the other, the essential feature of the design being that the two sections whichare employed to lift another are capable, when working together, of lifting a third section entirely clear of the water and holding it there.v

As before stated, when the sections are employed to liftavessel they are rigidlysecured together in the manner indicated in Figs. 1 'and 8. When it is desired to inspect or repairsone or more of the sections, the fastenare made to project under the central sec'` tion, and the terminal sections are then Each ot' them is U-shaped in cross-section and each may be` The tongue vportion may be of any suitable size pumped until they rise sufficiently to lift the central section clear of the water-line in the manner indicated in Fig. 4. When it is desired to raise a terminal section, the tongue of such terminal section is made to project into the central section, as indicated in Fig. 6, and the tongue of the other terminal section is made to project under the opposite end yof the terminal section to be raised, and then the sections are pumped in the usual manner until the terminal section to be inspected or repaired is raised above the waterline to a suicient extent.

A dock constructed in accordance with my invention is self-docking in every respect, while the means for accomplishing this result are very simple. When the sections are secured together in position for raising a vessel, they all form continuations of the same general structure and have the same general outline. The tongue on each terminal section is a continuation of the lower portion or pontoon of such section, and its deckis in the same plane as the deck of such pontoon, and therefore when the three or more sections are bolted together their decks form one continuous plane. When a 'terminal section is used in connection with a central section to raise the other terminal section, the deck ot the tongue of the raising section is brought into line with the deck of the central section used to support and raise the opposite end of the raised terminal section. This is also true when two terminal sections are used to raise a central section in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4.

I claimas my inventionl. A floating dock comprising central and terminal sections, each U-shaped in crosssection, said terminal sections each having a tongue'adapted to extend between the side walls of another section and rest on said section between said walls.

2. A floating dock comprising central and terminal sections, each U-shaped in crosssection, and adapted to be securely fastened together to form a rigid structure, each terminal section having a projecting tongue adapted to enter between the side walls of another section, and each section of the dock being constructed with water-tight compartments, 'and having a lifting power such that any two sections are capable of lifting and supporting any onel of the other sections.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

LYONEL EDWIN CLARK.

Witnesses:

'.I. A. MACDONALD,

A. M. PARKINs.

IOO 

